Forums

The Limits of Redirection

By
Stephen Rex Goode, BSW

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I am a behavior support specialist in the developmental disabilities system in the State of Oregon. I am also a personal support worker (DSP) and a partner in ARISE Mentors, LLP, a provider organization employing several people as direct support professionals to work with adults with developmental disabilities. In all three of these roles, I see the service agreements and potential client announcements of a great many customers in that system.

A common theme I see in recent years is a mention that the customer “needs a lot of redirection.”

As a personal support worker and employer of direct support professionals, my reaction is something like, “This is not going to be fun!” (more…)

Copyright 2019, Inner Vessel Productions.

By
Stephen Rex Goode, BSW

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A few years ago, I reviewed the Oregon Zoo. Many things have changed since then, so I offer an update.

Introduction

The Oregon Zoo is in Portland, Oregon in the hills over downtown in beautiful Washington Park. Washington Park is 130 acres of beautiful trees, valleys, streams, gardens, arboretums, and paths located withing walking distance of skyscrapers and the apartments. Due to the zoo’s location, the terrain inside the zoo is hilly. (more…)

Oregon’s Broken Disabled Parking System

By
Stephen Rex Goode, BSW

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The Problems

Oregon, a state that prides itself on its generosity towards protected classes, such as disabled people, has a system for disabled parking that is flawed, unfair, and largely unenforced. There are different kinds of permits, but I’m going to focus on the common, renewable parking permit that is obtainable with a doctor’s signature, and, of course, a fee. I will also be mentioning the newer Wheelchair User permit.

Disabled Parking Spaces

By
Stephen Rex Goode, BSW

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Since writing the following review, I received a call from Cascade Athletic Club letting me know that my concerns were heard and the situation was corrected. I am very grateful. As I said, they are very good with people with disabilities.

Why is it that disabled parking spaces are the first things to go when a business needs to use their parking lot for another purpose? I see it all the time. People who don’t use or aren’t eligible to use a disabled parking space don’t really see why they are important to those of use who have trouble getting around.

So, when they decide to plan some kind of event where they want to use part of their parking lot for something other than parking cars, they choose the disable spots closed to their doors. The most recent example I’ve seen is at my very own club: Cascade Athletic Club in Gresham, Oregon.

Behavioral Accommodations

By
Stephen Rex Goode, BSW

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As a skills trainer and behavior support specialist for developmentally disabled adults, I often find myself in the community and in the company of people whose behavior is often outside the realm of what other people find comfortable. In many situations, the reactions of my customers are often overstated by social norms and draw the attention of people.

There was a time when the looks I would get would be full of disdain and contained a nonverbal message like, “Can’t you control that person?” (more…)

A New Forum

By
Stephen Rex Goode, BSW

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Announcing PDX Gatherings

PDX Gatherings is a forum and tool for arranging get-togethers of any size for customers with developmental disabilities, colleagues, and other interested parties living in the Portland Oregon area.

You can announce events you’ve already planned, or begin a discussion about planning something you’d like to do.

The best place to start is the to take the “tour” of the web site here. Once you register, you can request to join the forum. Once your request is granted, you can start posting about events.

To post an event or even just an idea for an event, just click on PDX Gatherings in the list of forums. Fill out a description of the event or idea in the main box and give as many details as you can in the forum underneath the main box. Publish it by clicking “Submit” and you’re done.

You can reply to events others have posted and try to make arrangements there.

You can also just talk about issues related to getting together. Give it a try.

Copyright 2019, Inner Vessel Productions.

No Rest for the Weary

By
Stephen Rex Goode, BSW

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With all due respect to the old chieftain, I am talking about a different kind of bull. Pardon me for my indelicacy, but I find the issue of places to sit for people with disabilities like mine to be one full of a certain bovine waste product. Maybe when I’ve had my say, you’ll think I’m the one full of it. (more…)

Or Penny Wise, Pound Foolish

By
Stephen Rex Goode, BSW

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I’m sure you’ve heard the idiom, “Penny wise, pound foolish.” It refers to decisions made by people who scrutinize the smallest expenditures of money while ignoring the waste of great amounts of money. A decision is penny wise and pound foolish when it wastes more money that it saves. (more…)

A Review of Six Flags Discovery Kingdom

By
Stephen Rex Goode, BSW

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Six Flags Discovery Kingdom lies north of the Golden Gate Bridge in Vallejo, California. It is a theme park based mostly on marine life, including Shouka the Orca, Merlin the Dolphin, who are each other’s best friends. More about the Saga of the Soda later. (more…)

Copyright 2019, Inner Vessel Productions.

By
Stephen Rex Goode, BSW

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A couple of years ago, about the only place I could find casual clothing for my large body was Kmart. There were other stores, including Casual Male Big and Tall, but the prices were too high for me. Then, suddenly, everything above 2X seemed to have disappeared from the Kmart racks. (more…)